The North Texas Ecotype Project under the supervision of Dr. James (Jim) Pierre Muir Associate Professor, Forage Ecologist Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Stephenville Texas



	Ag Programs » Dr. Jim Muir » Goat Nutrition Program


	Stephenville Goat Nutrition Program

	Economically viable goat production is normally rangeland and pasture-based. One of the bottlenecks to greater production is poor nutrition for both reproductive flocks and fattening wethers (castrated males) on rangeland or pasture. Taking kids from 40 to 90 lbs, the ideal export slaughter weight, while still maintaining carcass quality (age dependent) is difficult on poor quality forages. Our program studies rangeland, pasture and hay-based systems that are specifically designed to put weight on goats quickly and economically. Feed supplements such as agro-industrial byproducts, high-energy grains, and protein-rich pulses also need to fit into Texas goat finishing systems. With that improvement will come a greater share of the national and international chevon (prime goat carcass) market for Texas.

	A. Research Objectives

	Our long-term objective is to increase high quality, exportable Texas goat meat production through a sustainable, ecologically stable increase in carrying capacity of rangeland and pasture already used by small ruminants. Specifically, we will:

	Continue to collect native and naturalized Texas legume germplasm, both perennial and self-seeding annuals, with physiological adaptation to either winter or summer browsing. Characterize both native and exotic germplasm for agronomic features and adaptation to cultivation or rangeland reseeding. Characterize legume herbage for nutritional factors (nutritionally available macrominerals, in sacco digestibility of cellulose, hemi-cellulose, and crude protein, as well as conversion to weight gains), lignin, and toxic plant secondary metabolites (PSM) such as phenethylamines and condensed tannins. Determine the most effective, economically feasible feed supplements and hay for finishing goats browsing native and cultivated pastures.
	B. Research Projects in Course
	The following is a partial list of research efforts and short description of methodology. Annual Summer Legumes for Browsers Annual Winter Pastures for Goats

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